Food Allergy Counseling

Friday, September 04, 2009

Flu Advice, AAAAI

***MILWAUKEE – According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67% of children who died with the new H1N1 flu virus had at least one high-risk medical condition.

Any individual with an underlying respiratory condition such as asthma is more likely to experience serious health problems if he or she contracts the flu, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI.org).

“As with seasonal influenza, people with chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma are more vulnerable to the adverse consequences of H1N1 infection. Recent data suggest that children with asthma are especially at risk and should heed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations regarding vaccination and treatment options,” said AAAAI.org Executive Vice President Thomas B. Casale, MD, FAAAAI.

Is it flu or is it allergies?For parents of children with asthma or allergies, telling the difference between these allergic disease symptoms and the seasonal flu or H1N1 may be a bit difficult. “Itchy eyes, a scratchy nose or sneezing are symptoms of allergies,” Casale suggests. “But if your child suffers from asthma and develops a fever or nausea and vomiting, consult your physician.”

Food allergies and the vaccinesVaccinations for both the seasonal flu and H1N1 are among the best prevention tools available to prevent complications from the flu, especially for individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma. But what if you are allergic to a substance in the vaccines?

“Individuals with egg allergy may be at risk for an allergic reaction to H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines due to the egg content in the vaccine preparations. Before getting vaccinated, review the information posted onAAAAI.org and consult with your health care provider. In most cases, vaccination can be tolerated if done according to these recommendations,” reports Casale.***

2 comments:

I didn't know how to contact you other than this blog but I wanted to let you know about two incredibly allergy-friendly restaurants in the LA area - Santa Monica and West Hollywood and Sherman Oaks/Studio City.

We were in LA for 8 days this month and ate at La Grande Orange (Santa Monica) 3xs. My son (tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, sesame and the like) received superb service. The servers and prep chefs, alike, made it their priority to accommodate him each time. And, of course, the restaurant attached a bright pink allergy slip to his orders. Moreover, they never gave us any kind of attitude or rushed us along in our request for ingredients and discussion on safety. We will go back again and again.

Hugo's Restaurant (West Hollywood and Studio City/Sherman Oaks) was equally accommodating and tasty. Its focus is on organic fare. Whereas, Orange has a very modern menu.

One last plug, Grom gelato establishments (Upper West Side and the West Village) have enabled my son to finally indulge, safely, in "ice cream" on outings with the rest of the family. Grom has its own protocol for dealing with allergies and most of the servers (one or two haven't been totally "with it") have been extremely sensitive to our needs.

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Disclaimer

The content on this blog is based on my personal experiences and intended solely for entertainment purposes only. I am not a medical professional and the content on this blog is not to be considered medical advice.